The name Chacarita comes from the word “chacra”, which means a small farm. This area was originally home to a Jesuit school and its “small garden,” or chacrita or chacarita before this was part of the city itself.

In 1871 things took a turn for the worse, there was a yellow fever outbreak that wreaked havoc in southern neighborhoods like La Boca. The city was forced to create a new cemetery in what is currently the Los Andes Park (a city park that’s located outside the current walls of today’s cemetery) for the yellow fever victims.

There were so many victims to the outbreak, a tranvia (actually called the Funeral Tram or Tranvía Fúnebre) and a new train station with the same name, Funeral Station.

The cemetery wasn’t particularly hygienic and cremated up to 564 cadavers in one day. Imagine living next to that. Due to protests from neighbors, the city shut down the cemetery in 1875.

In 1887, construction began on the New Chacarita Cemetery, which is the cemetery you see today. It’s massive, at 96 hectares (237 acres!), occupying a huge space in the center of a densely populated city.

First, you’ll see mausoleums and pantheons similar to (and much larger than) those in Recoleta. Next are crypts and niches.

Guided tour: This cemetery is huge, it's practically its own walled city. A guided tour is ideal!

Famous Inhabitants: Tango Stars in Chacarita

Recoleta may be where the city’s politicians and military heroes are laid to rest, but Chacarita is where the people’s celebrities are buried. There are pantheons that house hundreds and even thousands of coffins.

Many of these pantheons belong to unions, and the most famous is the Artists’ Pantheon. Musicians, actors, they were all buried here. You can find it at the end of the diagonal street that cuts through the mausoleums to your right when you first enter the cemetery.

Many fans came to pay homage to their idols but weren’t able to enter the pantheon. They resolved this by creating “Artist’s Corner” (Rincon del Artista), located by the land plots (in the 7th sector). The city moved famous tango musicians, artists, and actors from their original resting place to be displayed here.

Carlos Gardel is buried here and is the most famous "resident." Find his grave at the corner of streets 6 and 33 (Google Maps can help you find it if you understandably get lost here).